“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me?” (Ps 43:5; KJV) We all have times of despondency and depression when the weights of life bear down on us. Isaiah (Is 61:3) told us Jesus would bring us the: “the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness”.

Depressive thoughts are fearful thoughts and they don’t come from God; God has given us a sound mind free from troubling worries (2 Tim 1:7). God does not bring confusion but peace (1 Cor 14:33). We need to cast our cares on Jesus and he will strengthen and guard us (Ps 55:22). Paul told us not to be anxious but to bring our concerns in prayer to God, to have a thankful heart, and then we would experience God’s peace (Phil 4:6-7).

Paul also said we should train our minds to dwell upon the things of God; think, speak and meditate them. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil 4:8). This is the true antidote for worry and depression.

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Does God heal today? Jesus healed by the power of the Holy Spirit when he was upon this earth; he healed: “all that were oppressed of the devil” (Acts 10:38; KJV). The Bible tells us that Jesus never changes (Heb 13:8). Jesus came that we might have abundant life, not sickness and premature death (John 10:10). God said: “I am the Lord that healeth thee” (Ex 15:26).

In both the Old (Isa 53:5) and New Testaments, it is made clear that Christ took stripes on his body, his body was broken, that we could be whole and be healed. “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed (1 Peter 2:24).  

We can receive God’s promise of healing by praying in faith (Mark 11:24). We develop the faith God gave us by spending time in his word: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17).

Let’s do it. Let’s be like the Psalmist and meditate God’s word day and night (Ps 1:2), until, like Abraham, we are fully convinced that God is able to do what he promised (Rom 4:21).

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Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.

God told Abram that he would bless him and make of him a great nation; he also promised that through him everyone on the earth would be blessed (Gen 12:2-3). To be blessed in Old Testament writing meant to be blessed greatly or abundantly in all areas of life. Abraham had a close relationship with God and certainly grew to be great and immensely wealthy (Gen 24:35).

In the New Testament in Galatians chapter 3 and verses 13-14, Paul wrote that: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law (see Deut 28 for the curse), being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (KJV; Gal 3: 13-14).

The Gentiles are any the non-Jewish people. If you are a Christian and have given your life to Christ, then you are blessed with believing Abraham (Gal 3:9). Through Abraham's seed or lineage, came Jesus and in Jesus we have all the blessings of Abraham and so much more. Through Jesus we have forgiveness (Col 1:14), abundant life (John 10:10), healing (1 Peter 2:24), power and authority over all the works of satan (Matt 28:18). We were taken from darkness to God’s kingdom of light (Col 1:13); we walk in Christ’s victory (1 Cor 15:57).

Are you praising and thanking God yet?

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Paul encouraged the Romans not to lag in diligence (Rom 12:11). The Greek word for diligence is "spoude", which also means to strive, to be full of zeal or earnest about something. The book of Proverbs is full of wisdom and information about diligence and contrasts it to laziness; for example: “the hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute" (Prov 12:24; KJV).

The diligent person will be a good steward of their time and God given gifts; they will push through their circumstances with a vision of what God can do for them. There are several scriptures that encourage diligence; for example, in the Old Testament we are encouraged to diligently listen to the voice of the Lord so we can experience God as our healer (Ex 15:26). In Deuteronomy 28:1 again, God shows us that if we will listen diligently, we will be overtaken with blessings. God also directs us to teach our children his commands diligently (Deut 6:7).

In Hebrews 4:11, the author writes that we should be diligent to enter into rest that God has for us and in Galatians 2:10 the apostle Paul directs us to be diligent in remembering the poor. These are just a few verses on diligence and there are more. I encourage you today not to lag in diligence but to be: "fervent in spirit; serving the Lord" (Rom 12:11).

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“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment” (Mark 12:30; KJV).

Did you know that the Greek word for love there is agape? That is the same unconditional love that God loves us with. Impossible, you may be thinking; could I ever love God just as he loves me? However, in Romans 5:5, the apostle Paul wrote that the Holy Spirit pours out the agape love of God in our hearts. Also, when we were born again, we were given a brand-new nature (the nature of God) which is a love nature.

So, we do have the ability to love God as he loves us and with God's help we can do it. Not only that, but the apostle John taught us that: "His love is perfected in us" (agape again) (1 John 4:12). That word "perfected" means to be made complete or mature.

As we spend time abiding in the vine (John 15:1-8) then the love that has been poured into our hearts will mature and grow and it will become easier to "agape" God (and others too). Abiding in the vine or in Jesus, who is the vine, simply means to remain continually in close communion or relationship with him. Sounds good to me.

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Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.